APRÈS NOUS LE DÉLUGE

The Rev. Dana Prom Smith, S.T.D., Ph.D. (9/29/08)





After their revolution in 1789, the French guillotined their feudal oppressors. While one wouldn't necessarily wish our CEO's, CFI's, and assorted ilk death on the chopping block, they certainly don't merit a $500,000.00 kiss-off.

After the defeat of the French army by the Germans in 1757 and a subsequent financial collapse, Mme. de Pompadour, mistress of King Louis XV, is quoted as saying, "After us the deluge." So it is in 2008. After 8 years of feudal Republicanism, the deluge.

As with the French feudal aristocracy, our modern Republican feudal aristocracy, beginning with Ronald Reagan, has exploited the American middle-classes and the poor, enriching themselves at the expense of the people with tax welfare for the rich and their corporations. Called the "trickle-down" theory, it runs that as the rich get richer, their excess riches will trickle down to the middle-classes and the poor, like the economic theory of the French feudal aristocracy prior to the Revolution. The operative word is "greed."

Marie-Antoinette, the queen consort to Louis XVI, just before the revolution on hearing the people had no bread, is reputed to have said, "Let them eat cake." Well, after eating Republican cake for 8 years, it's time for some revolution. As Thomas Jefferson said, "A little rebellion now and then is a good thing."

Rather than bail-outs and guillotines, our feudal Republican aristocrats could do hard time in the old Yuma territorial prison, harvesting vegetables in the fields. In addition to doing penance, they might be useful.

YOU CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS

The Rev. Dana Prom Smith, S.T.D., Ph.D. (9/13/08)

Years ago, the head of Los Angeles County's Probation Department was asked, "When asked by the Courts, on what basis do you make sentencing recommendations for convicted criminals, like is probation warranted?" His reply was succinct, "Past behavior." Then he said, "Oh, sometimes criminals have had a real conversion experience, but that's hard to verify. What counts is their record."

Failing to come up with his own campaign slogan, John McCain copied Barack Obama's, telling us that he's an agent for change. His record belies his claim. Claiming to be a maverick, he's faithfully been in George's hip pocket. He's done nothing to solve the health crisis, the mortgage meltdown, the job losses, the tax breaks for big oil and the rich, the loss of our industrial base, women's rights: the usual pitiful Republican record. He doesn't even know they're problems. No probation for McCain and the Republicans.

Since his senior campaign staff is composed of Washington lobbyists, there's been no conversion. Convicted narcotics peddlers wouldn't stay long on probation if the cops them found them hanging out with fellow addicts. So it is with John McCain: still addicted and still selling deadly Republican hallucinogens.

Then there's Sarah Palin's repeated lies about opposing the Bridge to Nowhere and selling the governor's airplane on eBay. A Republican, she believes that repeating lies makes them true. What Mary McCarthy said of Lillian Hellman might well be said of Sarah, "Every word she writes is a lie, including 'and' and 'the.'"

HOMOSEXUALITY AND GRACE

The Rev. Dana Prom Smith, S.T.D., Ph.D. (9/6/08)

Even though Rick Krug is "formally educated in historical Christian theology" with a master's degree to prove it, his argument is flawed. In the first place, he begins with the Holy Bible, not with Jesus Christ. Christians aren't "Bible believers." They're Christ believers as their name indicates. "Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2)."

The authority of the Holy Bible rests in its witness to Jesus Christ, not in itself. Martin Luther said that the Scriptures were the cradle in which Christ has been laid, that is to say, they convey the message of the Christ and that is their sole authority. They should be interpreted in the context of Jesus Christ which means that not all passages are of equal value. They are not the message. Christ is the message, and Christ's message is grace, grace to everyone whether or not anyone approves of them.

The Christian message is not a conventional anti-vice morality which is a cheapening of grace, but rather the radical ethic of grace to all. Matthew said it best, "God with us" which amongst other things means not against us. "Us" is homosexuals as well as heterosexuals. "Us" includes "trans-genders." While one may like or dislike such behavior, approval or disapproval is irrelevant. The message is grace for those who others condemn. As Saint Paul said, "It is God who justifies, who is condemn?"

It's way past time for Fundamentalists and Evangelicals to get with Christ's program.